Day 164

1 Kings 11:1–12:19; Acts 9:1-25; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5

WE REACHED THE pinnacle of ancient Israel’s existence under King Solomon’s rule yesterday. In our reading from 1 Kings today, we began to clearly see how we indeed have begun a downward descent. Solomon had seven hundred wives of royal birth as well as three hundred additional concubines. Over time, Solomon began to worship the gods of his wives and even built shrines and high places for such worship. This was a blatant breach of covenant, promise, and faith with the God of Israel.

As we reached the end of Solomon’s reign and life, enemies emerged, and significant unrest was brewing. Solomon’s son Rehoboam was crowned king in his father’s place, but his arrogance and entitlement had immediate and catastrophic effects on the kingdom.

As the twelve tribes gathered in Shechem for the coronation, they approached the king. A man named Jeroboam led them. This man had previously overseen the labor forces of King Solomon but had fled to Egypt when his future role was prophetically foretold.

“Your father was a hard master,” the people said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects” (1 Kings 12:4).

Three days later, King Rehoboam gave his answer: “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” (1 Kings 12:14).

Rehoboam’s harsh response unleashed events that pulled us forward into an entirely new era in the Bible. The ten tribes north of Jerusalem rebelled against the king and crowned Jeroboam their new sovereign. These tribes collectively became known as the northern kingdom of Israel.

A much weaker Rehoboam continued to rule over the Holy City of Jerusalem and its territory, which was known as the southern kingdom of Judah. This is important for us to understand, for we will meet many leaders who reign concurrently in these two kingdoms.

The Israel we followed all the way back to Abraham was no longer united under a single king. The single monarchy divided into two kingdoms (northern and southern), and they will take completely different paths.

Today’s story from Acts highlights the redemption that Jesus offers to all —even the most shameful and wicked people. Saul, a vicious oppressor of believers in Jesus, was on his way to Damascus when Jesus appeared to him and changed the course of his life. This encounter transformed Saul into the man we now know as the apostle Paul. He is a prime example of the simple fact that we are never out of God’s reach. No matter what we’ve done or where we’ve been, our past does not have to define our future. It is a mistake to think that our souls can never be washed clean. God sent His one and only Son for this very reason. Transformation was available to a man who had affirmed and witnessed the killing of Stephen and actively persecuted believers in Jesus. And transformation is available to each of us —no matter how dark our stories.

PRAYER:

LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.